Donald Trump on Environment

WOTUS 2018: limited definition of protected waterways

Vast amounts of wetlands and thousands of miles of waterways would no longer be federally protected by the Clean Water Act under a new proposal by the Trump administration. The proposal would change the EPA's definition of "waters of the United States,"
or WOTUS, limiting the types of waterways that fall under federal protection to major waterways, their tributaries, and adjacent wetlands. The change aims to "provide states and landowners the certainty they need to manage their natural resources and
grow local economies," said the EPA acting administrator.

As a candidate and president, Donald Trump painted the Obama-era rule in a similar light, calling it "one of the worst examples of federal regulation," and making its repeal and revision a priority for his administration.

Overrule Fisheries Commission and allow more fish harvesting

The Trump administration, in an unprecedented decision, has rejected the recommendation of a commission that has long overseen fishing issues along the East Coast, raising deep concerns about political meddling in the ongoing preservation of fragile
stocks from Maine to Florida.

More specifically, the decision by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has stirred worries about the consequences for summer flounder, one of the most fished species in the Northeast. Ross earlier this month dismissed the
findings of the 75-year-old Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which concluded that New Jersey was violating a conservation plan for summer flounder that all the other states in the compact approved.

The decision,
which effectively allows New Jersey to harvest more summer flounder, marked the first time the federal government had disregarded such a recommendation by the commission, and it drew a swift rebuke from state officials along the East Coast.

Regulations by unelected officials reward special interests

Q: What steps will you take to protect biological diversity?

TRUMP: The federal executive branch has continued to expand its reach and impact. Today, we have agencies filled with unelected officials who have been writing rules and regulations that
cater to special interests and that undermine the foundational notion of our government that should be responsive to the people. When these circumstances occur, there is an imbalance that rewards special interests and punishes the people who should
benefit the most from the protection of species and habitat. In a Trump administration, there will be shared governance of our public lands and we will empower state and local governments to protect our wildlife and fisheries. Laws that tilt the scales
toward special interests must be modified to balance the needs of society with the preservation of our valuable living resources. My administration will strike that balance by bringing all stakeholders to the table to determine the best approach.

2008: pushed Scotland golf course despite enviro fragility

In early 2006, rumors began to circulate in northeastern Scotland: Trump was thinking about expanding his golf empire to Scotland--birthplace of the sport, and of his mother.

Trump landed in Aberdeen, greeted by a bagpiper and a swarm of reporters.
Some thought it odd that Trump kept referring to himself as being not Scottish but "Scotch," like the whisky; still, most local officials did what they could to smooth the way toward approval.

The public inquiry started in June 2008. Trump claimed to
know more about the environment than his consultants did, though he admitted he had not read their reports. "You can only read so much," he said. He promised to preserve the dunes, but when the councilor who had cast the deciding vote against his permit
accused Trump of failing to understand the property's environmental fragility, Trump snapped back, "Nobody has ever told me that I don't know how to buy property before. You're the first one. I have done very well buying property. Thanks for the advice."

Eminent domain is something you need very strongly

Q: You say you don't agree with all conservative ideas; which ones don't you agree with?

TRUMP: Well, I think these people always hit me with eminent domain, and frankly, I'm not in love with eminent domain. But eminent domain is something you need
very strongly. When Jeb Bush said, "You used eminent domain privately for a parking lot." It wasn't for a parking lot. The state of New Jersey went to build a very large tower that was going to employ thousands of people--a big job in terms of economic
development. I got hit very hard: it's private, it's private eminent domain. You understand that [Jeb and George Bush] took over a stadium in Texas, and they used private eminent domain.

BUSH: You should not use eminent domain for private purposes.
A baseball stadium or a parking lot.is very different. All of that is proper use of eminent domain. Not to take an elderly woman's home to build a parking lot so that high-rollers can come from New York City to build casinos in Atlantic City.

Eminent domain pays more than fair market value

In his business dealings, Trump has used eminent domain to enrich himself, and called this "wonderful." In an interview with Breitbart News, Trump made his "greater good" arguments: "If you're going to build a factory that's going to have 5,000 jobs,
that's entirely different," Trump says. "These people, they're not just being thrown out. Everyone said 'you're taking their property,' but they're getting paid at least fair market value," Trump says.

"What people don't know is, usually you go through
a condemnation, and [the property owner] will get 2, 3, 4 times the value of their house. People don't know that," Trump tells Breitbart.

Trump acknowledged that the condemnation process is difficult. "It's always unpleasant," he says. "They always say
you pay them fair market value, but politically, they will pay you much more."

That all sounds great until you realize that to many of us, a home is more than a "2, 3, 4 times" investment. It is more than a house. It is a place filled with memories.

Source: John Nolte on Brietbart.com
, Oct 9, 2015

Eminent domain is a very useful tool for job creation

Eminent domain, when it comes to jobs, roads, the public good, I think it's a wonderful thing.
And remember, you're not taking property; you're paying a fortune for that property, sometimes up to ten times the actual value.
Eminent domain as a useful tool that local governments can use to prevent greedy homeowners from derailing major projects that could create thousands of jobs. Many conservatives don't understand how
many jobs this process often creates; and nobody knows it better than I do because I built a lot of buildings in Manhattan.

My sons love trophy hunting, but I'm not a believer

Donald Trump has never served in public office so it is very difficult to find any information on Trump's views on animal rights. However, both of Donald Trump's sons are known trophy hunters and recently defended the killing of beloved Cecil the lion.
The brothers themselves traveled to Zimbabwe to shoot, "a variety of animals, including an elephant, a crocodile, a kudu, a civet cat and water buck."
After his sons went under fire for their big game hunts, Donald Trump reportedly told TMZ, "My sons love hunting.
They're hunters and they've become good at it. I am not a believer in hunting and I'm surprised they like it."

Partner with environmentalists when undertaking projects

In 2006, I saw the link land in northeast Scotland's Grampian Region. I knew this was the right place for my golf course. As soon as my proposed development was announced in 2006, environmentalists were immediately on guard.

There were a lot of
issues to be dealt with, from badger and otter protection plans to the economic value to locals. People expected a duel, which I realized, so instead I offered a partnership approach. We worked with the Scottish National Heritage, and it became clear to
them that I am environmentally sensitive. I was also inclined to be sympathetic to the rich history of the area due to my own heritage. I also hired the leading expert on geomorphology, for extensive research on the 25 acres of sand dunes on this land.

Good development enhances the environment

Being in a position to help out at Jones Beach has been a tremendous feeling.
I know detractors will be pleasantly surprised when they see how well integrated the design will be with the environment and the park.

Source: Never Give Up, by Donald Trump, p. 97
, Jan 18, 2008

Asbestos got a bad rap from miners & mob-led movement

Asbestos is the greatest fireproofing material ever used, and everybody in the construction industry knows it. It is also 100% safe, once applied. But early on, asbestos got a bad rap because of the fact that miners who were digging asbestos for many
years would often develop asbestosis, and therefore people thought that asbestos was not safe. I'm not saying it's the greatest material to work with. I'm only saying it's the safest material in terms of fire. A huge and concerted effort was made to have
asbestos removed from buildings, causing tremendous dislocation and destruction and creating a new problem: asbestos floating in the air.

I believe that the movement against asbestos was led by the mob, because it was often mob-related companies
that would do the asbestos removal. Great pressure was put on politicians, and as usual, the politicians relented. Millions of truckloads of this incredible fireproofing material were taken to special "dump sites" because of this stupid law.

Humiliated NYC Mayor by finishing ice rink on time on budget

Ed Koch may have respected me, but he sure didn't like me. Our relationship went south for one reason: the Wollman Rink in Central Park. You may remember the tale. Local government had been trying for 7 years--and $20 million--to get that thing rebuilt.
In 1986, I stepped in, and--with $2 million, or 10% of the city's dollars--New Yorkers were gliding across the ice four months later. Koch was humiliated. He took it personally. Rather than compliment me on saving the Wollman Rink, one of the great
bureaucratic disasters in New York City history, Ed Koch tried to make light of my triumph by saying that the city could have done the same thing, that is, build the rink in four months rather than in seven years, if only it were not forced to go
through the bureaucratic red tape. This was nonsense, and everyone knew it, but nevertheless, Ed's feeling toward me came out loud and clear. He felt I'd shown him up and from that point forward my relationship with Ed Koch was the pits.

Bureaucratic land use reviews make projects unbuildable

[In planning an NYC project] I identified my bloodiest battle: the Uniform Land Use Review Process. ULURP is an impossible situation. All applicants are approved by the Board of Estimate, composed of the 5 borough presidents, the city council president,
and the comptroller. In order to move from one level to the next in the approval process--from the community board to the City Planning Commission & so on--the applicant is forced to negotiate blind, clueless as to the opponent's demands. It's a circus.
And it often produces approval packages that are essentially unbuildable.

Koch decided he'd change all this. I was optimistic--until I learned of his plan. In his infinite wisdom, Koch created yet another bureaucratic entity, the Charter Revision
Commission. It was a complete disaster. The process became more cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming than ever. I was appalled. Nothing, I had thought, could have made this process more inefficient, more ill-conceived, but I was wrong.

FactCheck: Yes, hybrid family vehicles are available in US

Trump complained in his book "Time to Get Tough": "Obama's total cluelessness was revealed at one speaking event. A man told Obama that he and his wife need a bigger vehicle because they have 8 kids. So what did Obama do? He told the guy, 'Buy a hybrid
van.' Just one problem: they don't exist in America. The president cannot even speak intelligently without a teleprompter." (p. 18).

Is that true? We researched whether any hybrid vans are available in America. Technically, Trump is correct; but
in the car showroom, Obama is correct.

Trump is technically correct if one differentiates "vans" from "SUVs". Hybrid SUVs ARE available in America: the Chevy Tahoe and the Toyota Highlander both seat families of 7. There are hybrid vans available
outside the US: the Toyota Estima (seats 7) is a hybrid available in Japan and Hong Kong. We would interpret Obama's statement as meaning "encourage Toyota to import that van if the SUV won't suit you." We would not interpret Obama's comment as "clueless